Madam, - Commissioner Charlie McCreevy's proposal that EU bureaucrats should dispense with their ties during the summer months has stimulated some reaction (Editorial, July 14th). Those of us who closely followed his political career here already know that Charlie McCreevy has a brass neck. As the commissioner will presumably lead by example, this will now be on show to his EU colleagues.
On a serious note, his latest contribution to tackling climate change smacks of pure tokenism. This will come as no surprise. While Minister for Finance, his implacable opposition to positive environmental policies, such as a carbon tax, directly contributed to Ireland's lethargic response to the climate change crisis and resulted in our reliance on carbon credits to meet our internationally binding commitments.
Unfortunately, Commissioner McCreevy's "cravat directive" amounts to nothing more than gimmickry and cheap tricks - no substitute for innovative and radical policies to address climate change. - Yours, etc,
IVANA BACIK,
Law School,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.
Madam, - What a splendidly innovative idea is Mr McCreevy's suggestion that Eurocrats should hang up their neckties for the summer, thereby slowing the inexorable onward march of global warming. Splendid, that, is if the commission's offices were air-conditioned. Alas, they are not, but then one could hardly expect a man of Mr McCreevy's stature and vision to be conversant with the habitat of les petits fonctionnaires. - Yours, etc,
NOEL COGHLAN
(former Commission official),
Hillcrest Park,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - If men discard ties, can you please tell me what we poor women will give them for Christmas? - Yours, etc,
BRENDA MATHER,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.